The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Medical Marijuana in Canada

For many Canadians, gaining legal access to safe, reliable medical marijuana is the golden ticket to a life worth living. However, with so much conflicting information in the news and online about cannabis dispensaries, coupled with the anticipated, alleged legalization of Cannabis on Canada day 2018, we wanted to shed some light on how medical cannabis works in Canada at the present time. If you’re finding yourself confused by the ‘grey area’ that medical marijuana seems to be categorized in these days, please read on for a straightforward, black and white look at the top 5 things you need to know about legal, medical marijuana in Canada.

1) Medical Cannabis requires a prescription

A medical marijuana prescription, also known as a ‘medical document’, has to be written by a qualified doctor to legally obtain medical cannabis in Canada. This medical document has 3 important pieces of information, which patients should pay attention to:

The Expiry Date

Medical documents are valid as soon as they are written and signed by your doctor – which is on the day you have your appointment. As such, it is important to know how long your prescription is written for, so you are aware of the expiry date. After a prescription expires, legally you are no longer able to purchase or carry medical cannabis on you, unless you have a new prescription.

As an example, if a prescription is signed on February 22, 2017, and is written for 4 months (120 days), the prescription will expire on June 21, 2017. It is always recommended to visit your cannabis doctor at least 2 weeks before the prescription expires so you may be re-prescribed and continue to legally possess and purchase your medical cannabis.

Grams Per Day

Your doctor must indicate the number of grams of dried cannabis they have prescribed to you, per day, based on your medical condition and experience with cannabis, generally ranging between 0.5 – 5 grams per day. Each month or each 30 day cycle, you are authorized to purchase 30 times your daily amount. This is called your ‘monthly allotment’. Patients can legally possess the lesser of a 30-day supply or 150 grams.

For example, if you are prescribed 2 grams of cannabis per day, you are allowed to purchase and carry on you up to 60 grams of cannabis per month ( 2 grams x 30 Days = 60grams per month).

THC limit

THC is the psychoactive component in medical cannabis, or the compound that is responsible for patients feeling ‘high’. Generally speaking, the THC content in medical cannabis products can range from <1% – 30 %. Some doctors will prescribe a THC limit on the prescription which prevents patients from purchasing products that have too much THC, based on the patient’s condition and experience.

For example, a prescription indicates a THC limit of 20%, so a patient would be unable to purchase strains (varieties) of cannabis that have a THC content higher than 20%. This piece of information is especially important when deciding which Licensed producer (LP) you choose to receive your medicine from, as you want to ensure that your LP offers products that accommodate your THC range/ limit.

2) Medical Cannabis can only be ordered and purchased from a Licensed Producer (plus you can grow your own!)

Licensed Producers ( also referred to as ‘LP’s’ ) are legally authorized under Health Canada to grow, produce and sell medical marijuana to eligible Canadians with a prescription. You can think of an LP like a pharmacy. Every LP requires the original copy of your medical document by mail or secure fax. If your prescribing doctor works in a marijuana clinic, the clinic will usually take care of sending your prescription directly to the LP of your choice.

Right now, there are 41 different Licensed Producers you can choose to receive your medicine from, and the list is growing. So, when deciding which LP to choose, it is important to take into consideration what type of cannabis you will be ordering ( dry or oils ), your THC limit, and your budget. Some LP’s offer compassionate pricing or discounts if you are on government assistance (ODSP, CPP Disability etc ), or are making less than a certain income amount per year. It is recommended to check with each LP directly or contact your cannabis clinic for more information.

Some patients choose to grow their own medical cannabis and this is an option through Health Canada. You can grow the cannabis yourself, or designate someone to grow it for you. It requires an application and prescription. If you’re interested in growing your own medical cannabis, please call Apollo for more details and to book an appointment!

3) Medical CAnnabis can only be mailed

At this point in time, Health Canada only allows medical marijuana to be mailed directly to the patient, from the LP. When choosing an LP it is not essential to take into account where they are located as they will always ship out your medicine in 1-2 business days via Canada Post. Some LP’s offer the option to choose Purolator or other mail services, however, Canada Post is standard. Shipping is usually very fast and discreet – in a cardboard box with nothing to indicate the contents. It’s important to note that the package does need to be signed for, so if nobody’s home at the time of delivery, they will leave you a sticker on your door letting you know where to pick up your medicine.

As such, there are no legal brick & mortar locations ( i.e no ‘stores’ ) where you can go in to purchase/ pick up your medical marijuana. This is where some confusion often lies as there is much chatter about dispensaries in the news. Dispensaries are storefronts which sell marijuana, however Health Canada is very clear when they state “ [ we ] do… not authorize the operation of retail storefronts, such as “compassion clubs” or “dispensaries”. They are illegal.” So, if you are currently getting your medicine from a storefront, or in any manner other than a LP, we urge you to call us at Apollo Cannabis Clinic so we can help you obtain cannabis legally.

4) Medical Cannabis is only available in Dry & Oil form (at time of writing)

At this point in time, Health Canada only approves the sale of marijuana from LP’s in two forms: dry cannabis, and oral/edible cannabis oil. Dry cannabis usually comes in bud or flower form and is most often smoked or vaporized. Dry cannabis is ideal for patients who need short-acting but immediate symptom relief. When cannabis is heated, through smoking or vaporizing, the THC and CBD is activated and then inhaled. As such, these compounds enter your body immediately and begin working at their peak within 5-10 minutes. However, these effects generally only last for 1-4 hours, depending on the person.

Oral cannabis oil sold by LP’s are taken under the tongue and then swallowed. Because the THC and CBD are absorbed during digestion through this method, the effects peak in 2-4 hours, however this method provides longer lasting relief, generally about 6-12 hours. Some Licensed Producers now offer cannabis oil in a capsule form, which is often more convenient. Patients may choose to use one method over the other, or combine the methods using oils a majority of the time and dry cannabis in a vaporizer for more acute symptom control, for example.

5) Medical Cannabis is not covered by Insurance

Medical Cannabis does not currently have a DIN number and as such, is not covered by OHIP or other government health insurance providers. However, many Licensed producers recognize the expense of marijuana and offer ‘Compassionate Pricing’. Patients who are on government social assistance, or who are making less than a certain income amount per year may be eligible.

Some private insurance companies may cover the cost of medical cannabis, and as the industry continues to evolve we encourage patients to continually ask their provider.

Similarly, Patients who are on ODSP are also eligible to have a vaporizer fully covered, and veterans can be covered for up to 3 grams of cannabis per day. If you want to know if you are eligible for compassionate pricing, it is recommended to contact the LP directly, or call your marijuana clinic for more info.

And there you have it – the Top 5 things that you need to know about medical cannabis in Canada. We hope you found this article interesting and helpful, so please let us know in the comments, if you have any questions or what other topics you would like us to cover!

yes absolutely! One of our doctors and our patient educators will work with you to ensure you are using the best strains/products for your needs. Please let us know if you are ready to book a consultation and we would be thrilled to help you!

Marijuana Treatment Reduces Severe Epileptic Seizures.Two compounds found in the drug, THC and CBD, may have medical benefits. I have also heard that, It can be helpful in cancer also. Do you know any research that supports this fact? About medical marijuana, I usually purchase from MedMen. Do you think they are more costly?

Medicinal cannabis is really useful in addressing various health conditions such as pain. I’ve been suffering from gouty arthritis for two years now. Good thing I’m able to order my favorite strain online. It is Canadian-owned. Thanks for the info!

Jim, if you check back do you mind discussing what has helped you…I have been approved for many issues, including yours, but so far am not helped by the products suggested. I also find the cost very prohibitive, even without meeting the threshold I could legally take. I think it would be in excess of $200 per month if I used the entire prescription-have ordered dried vs oil this month to try but the cost would have to be justified by an increase in quality of life!

Hey Denise, hopefully, Jim sees this, but if not we can also help. If you’re not finding relief, please contact us to go over your current products and dosages so we can tweak your plan and ensure you are getting the most benefit possible from the medical cannabis. We look forward to ensuring you are taken care of!

Hi Erika, thanks for asking! ‘Compassionate pricing’ or a discount on medical cannabis is offered by some Licensed Producers. We can help you determine which LP will best suit your mother’s financial and healthcare needs and help register your mom for compassionate pricing. Most likely she will qualify, as the low-income threshold for most of these programs are <29k/ year. Please email us at info@apolloresearch.ca for more info or to book an appointment for your mom 🙂

Hi there,
I’m a 42 yr old female with fibromyalgia.
My Dr. Asked me if I considered medical marijuana.
I said no I wasn’t interested. (I’ve never done any kind of drug in my life)
When I got home I started doing some research and I’m starting to lean towards giving this a try.
I live in Ontario and obviously my Dr. Is onboard with this but I’d like to know what happens if and when I tell him that I’d like to give it a try.
I hate being on all the medications that I’m on and the side effects are ridiculous.
I am also on O.W. fighting to get on O.D.S.P.
So my funds are well below what is needed to purchase this type of treatment.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Missi, thanks for your comment and for reaching out. Great question. You can ask your doctor to refer you to us here at Apollo. Give him this referral form ( https://apollocannabis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/apollo-referral-form.pdf ). He will then refer you to us. We will contact you to book an appointment either at one of our Toronto Clinics or if you live outside the GTA we can arrange a secure video call with one of our doctors at a center near you. We will hold your hand every step of the way and will also make sure you receive all eligible discounts on your medical cannabis due to being on O.W. We will help you create a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your healthcare goals as well as your financial situation to get the best possible results from medical cannabis. Please give us a call ( 416 840 5991 ) if we can assist you or if you’d like more information.

Hi I am wondering if I work part time and on odsp for medical illness for Tourette’s/tremors/PTSD/severe migraines. Am I able to still claim my marijuana and marijuana oils on taxes in Ontario? I do work and also get a cheque from O.D.S.P.

Hi Brent, Thanks for your comment and question. You should still be able to claim your medical cannabis as a medical expense. Have you applied for compassionate pricing with your LP and also asked your caseworker about getting a free vaporizer through ODSP? Please email us at info@apolloresearch.ca for more info if you’d like help

I had a medical marijuana licence since 2001 I had a Dr up until last yr that was willing to fill out the paper work for my licence. My Dr has retired and I have not been able to find a new dr.Do you help patients find Dr’s that are willing to fill out the appropriate paper work ?Thank you

Hi Heather – thanks so much for reaching out! We can certainly help you. We are a doctor’s office who prescribes medical cannabis to patients across Canada. To book an appointment, or for more information, I encourage you to reach out to our team toll free at 1 8 77 560 9195 or email info@apolloresearch.ca 🙂

Hi
Im on odsp and am authorized by my doctor to consume cannabis. I need to obtain a proper vaporizer but ny odsp worker is not helpful and makes it hard to get advice. So, how do i get a vaporizer covered under ny odsp benefits?

Hi Dana great question. Apollo takes care of most of the leg work for you. We ask you to get a certain form stamped by your case worker and we take care of the rest of the communications and paperwork. If you’re looking for help, please don’t hesitate to call in and inquire about how we can take care of all of your needs. Thanks for commenting!